Arkansas Champion Bentonville Stands Above All Others With 77-55 Victory Over Bloomington North

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photo courtesy Bentonville

Extraordinary distance running powered both of the national finalists for the John Dye Dual Meet Tournament this year and the final showdown between Bentonville AR and Bloomington North IN was decided by those races on paper. 

Bentonville AR, with its pair of 4:04 milers and 8:48 3,200-meter runners, ultimately proved to be the best team in the country. And it wasn't all about the distance running. Sprinter/jumper Kayden Brown and thrower Will Neumann both played big roles in the Arkansas champions mowing over the opposition throughout the tournament. 

Strong as Bentonville was in mid-distance, neither of its sub-1:51 guys won the 800. That went the most significant athlete in the entire meet, New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion Kaleb Winders, who ran 1:46.85 for No. 6 all-time. 

Brown won the 100 (10.53w), 200 (21.59) and was second in the long jump (22-7.50). Neumann was an anchor for the team as well, taking the shot put (58-10) and discus (183-9). 

Bentonville won the final by a score of 77-55. 

Matthew Shelly and Brian Burns, both 4:04 milers, went 1-2 in the 1,600 meters with converted times of 4:02.4c and 4:03.2c, respectively. Owen Kelley (8:48.41) and Shelly (8:48.76) gave Bentonville the best 1-2 punch in the history of the dual meet tournament in the 3,200 meters. Burns, who transferred in from Missouri in January, is the younger brother of Connor Burns.

Bloomington North, which had a double winner with Benjamin Boland in the hurdles events, was trying to become the third team from Indiana to win the national dual meet championship in five years. Carmel won the event in 2021, Brownsburg in 2023.

First-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Second-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Regional semifinal summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Regional final summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

Meet Results